What's on: Ecumenical worship service for children with disabilities and their families and carers — Blacktown Uniting Church, June 1. READ ON MORE EVENTS

Invitation to Wesley Mission anniversary service
Members of the Uniting Church are being invited to join Wesley Mission staff, volunteers and supporters to celebrate Wesley Mission’s 196th anniversary at a special service at the Wesley Centre this Sunday, May 18 at 6 pm. READ ON

Small symbols of hope amid cyclone devastation
As the scale of death and destruction in Myanmar becomes clearer, the pervasive response is one of helplessness. The challenge is to keep alive the hope that things can be different, that shared humanity is more than a comfortable abstraction. READ ON

Africa's pay-at-tap meters 'put poorest at risk'
In Lesotho, South Africa and many other African countries, devices that restrict consumers to only using water that they have paid for in advance are being promoted as a way to fund better water infrastructure, but church water experts warn this approach endangers the access of the poorest of the poor to this necessity of life. READ ON

Churches prepare action for peace in Israel-Palestine
Churches throughout the world are preparing to respond to six decades of conflict in Israel-Palestine with a week of actions for justice and peace, reports the World Council of Churches, which is helping to coordinate the event. READ ON Israel and Palestine — 60 years. READ ON "Just peace" call. READ ON MORE I Remember 1948. READ ON Redress the balance. READ ON

Religious journalism amid spiritual 'intolerance'
The theological and political divisions within the US religious landscape have made the once-quiet "religion beat" one of the most interesting, if intense, journalistic assignments in the United States today, writes a prominent award-winning reporter who covers religion. READ ON

A step forward for human rights
Human Rights Commissioner, Graeme Innes has welcomed the announcement in last night’s Federal Budget of the abolition of the Temporary Protection Visa system for refugees. READ ON MORE

Tough solutions 'ineffective' for Aboriginals
There is no proof that "tough love" solutions, including quarantining welfare payments, are effective means of halting dysfunctional behaviour in indigenous communities, according to two leading Aboriginal academics. READ ON

Budget impresses welfare, infrastructure groups
The Rudd Government's first Budget has received a warm welcome from infrastructure and welfare groups, but faces criticism over cuts to the public service and its environmental spending. READ ON

Churches preach but unconverted
Little wonder that demographers of religion claim that the poor record of the church on environmental action has been another factor in why believers are taking their faith outside the church. READ ON Not so green. READ ON Church of England hosts round table on climate change action. READ ON Churches mobilise for the greening of India. READ ON Greening the church email network. READ ON MORE MORE

Uniting Church launches Burma cyclone appeal
Uniting International Mission, through its relief and development division Uniting Church Overseas Aid, has launched the UCOA Burma Cyclone Appeal. READ ON The National Council of Churches in Australia has launched an Emergency Response Appeal for the victims of tropical cyclone Nargis. READ ON Uniting Church appalled by Burma referendum plans. READ ON 100,000 could be dead. READ ON The Rev. Jason Kioa urges Uniting Church people to support the SHARE Burma Cyclone Appeal. READ ON

Childish superstition
Einstein's letter makes view of religion relatively clear. READ ON MORE

The quest for happiness is no laughing matter
Was the Rev. Bill Crews right when declaring from the stage of the happiness conference: "Don't worry about happiness. You lot should throw away your notes and just go out and do it." READ ON

Burnside celebrates 15 years of advocacy
On May 8, UnitingCare Burnside celebrated 15 years of social justice advocacy. READ ON

Manna from hedge fund for Christian site
A new website run from Plano, Texas, has proved that the Old Testament promise of manna from Heaven has relevance in the digital age. READ ON

Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney elected ROCOR head
Archbishop Hilarion (Kapral) of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand has been elected the new hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. READ ON

Methodists told to expect mixed prospects
Methodists in Britain have been told by their president that the future holds prospects for both renewal and demise. READ ON Churchgoing on its knees. READ ON MORE "In Britain today there is considerable spiritual homelessness. At the same time as there is a lot of public interest in religion." READ ON

Resources for Sorry Day
The prayers long offered by the churches for reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians are a little closer to fulfilment. READ ON

A new evangelism for the US
Today's evangelicals are as concerned with ecology and human rights as with personal morality. READ ON

Faith groups mount campaign against torture
As Congress and the Bush administration skirmish over still-secret interrogation techniques, American faith communities are mounting a national campaign to prohibit torture and cruel and inhumane treatment of US-held detainees. READ ON

Indigenous stories echo down the centuries
The Macquarie PEN Anthology of Aboriginal Literature, a landmark book showcasing world-class writing by indigenous people and telling the story of the social and political conditions that Aboriginal individuals and communities have lived through, has been launched in Sydney. READ ON

Can you imagine a world without books and reading?
The Indigenous Literacy Project is a partnership between the Australian Book Industry and The Fred Hollows Foundation that raises funds to purchase and supply books and other culturally appropriate material to remote communities where The Foundation works. READ ON

The Australian Christian Lobby and the politics of fear
"We need to look at the issue of governance so that the broader community can assess Christian-based lobby groups." READ ON

When growth turns into a monster
To almost all economists, business people and politicians, the need to maximise the growth of the economy is a self-evident truth. One of the questions that is not put in the political process by either side of politics, let alone answered, is: Towards what are we striving to grow? READ ON

Indigenous staff on the rise at UnitingCare NSW.ACT
UnitingCare NSW.ACT has committed to taking on more than 140 new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff over the next 12 months as part of its recently-developed Indigenous Employment Strategy. READ ON

Leaders have strengths identified by NCLS Research
Australian church leaders took part in the 2006 National Church Life Survey Leaders Survey can now view their leadership strengths online. READ ON

Pentecost message of WCC presidents
May we this Pentecost, following the example of the first disciples, wait together, open to receive anew the life giving power of the Holy Spirit that God always desires to give to us. READ ON